Full circle

The internet was for many years largely the preserve of academics. Then commerce got its great, dirty hands in there and caused a bit of mayhem. Not least of the culprits was a university spin-off, Google. Now they are returning the web to some of its roots:

scholar.google.com

Still a beta, of course, but looking good. No doubt it will be used most by academics 'googling themselves' and students seeking to make that gamma in last week's essay an alpha plus through some judicious and impressive-looking references.

Great strapline too: 'Stand on the shoulders of giants'

You probably know that it is derived from a quote from Sir Isaac Newton. You may not, however, know that it was probably a snide reference to the diminutive physical stature of his rival Robert Hooke.